NEWS & EVENTS

Welcome to our Chapter. We hope you will join us in helping children feel better to heal better. 

Stay healthy, Pillowcase Warriors, we need our village strong! 

Want to stay informed of everything that is going on with our Tampa Bay Chapter?  Follow us on Facebook at //www.facebook.com/caseforsmilestampabay/

Upcoming Sew Days

How can you help?

• Sew pillowcases and drop them off at a drop off site.
• Donate child friendly fabric
• Donate funds for us to purchase fabric (all donations are 100% tax deductible)
• Donate your time – come help us make pillowcases at a sew day
• Organize your own sew day with your friends or community – contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com if you would like help

**CANCELED due to illness & injury** July 8 & 15:  1 Voice Foundation & Academy Summer Camp

Join us at the 1 Voice Academy (1935 Camp Florida Rd, Brandon, FL 33510) on Wednesday, July 8 & 15: 10am-2pm for their annual summer camp!  We need volunteers to help camp kiddos choose the pillowcase they want to make, and run the sewing machines & sergers to help kids make the pillowcases to take home with them from camp.  We did this last year and all of the volunteers and kids had an absolute blast!!  Ideally, we need 4 sewing machine helpers, 4 serger helpers, and at least 2 people helping the kids choose the cases to sew.  Please contact Jamie at 813-786-0991 if you are able to help us on either day or both.  Please note:  This is a school for children undergoing cancer treatment which means the children attending are often immune compromised.  Please be considerate when deciding to attend – we ask that if you have the slightest indication of any illness that you choose not to come as the children on site are very vulnerable.  We also request that no other children be brought to the events at this location due to risk of possible infections.    

**CANCELED due to illness & injury** July 13: Inspire! Quilting and Sewing Sew Day

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, July 13: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in hospitals, clinics, and to various partner organizations.  (This event is the second Monday of every month.)

July 14: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, July 14: 10am-4pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in hospitals, clinics, and to various partner organizations.  (This event is the second Tuesday of every month.)

Aug 10: Inspire! Quilting and Sewing Sew Day

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, Aug 10: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in hospitals, clinics, and to various partner organizations.  (This event is the second Monday of every month.)

Aug 11: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Aug 11: 10am-4pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in hospitals, clinics, and to various partner organizations.  (This event is the second Tuesday of every month.)

Aug 26:  1 Voice Foundation & Academy

Join us at the 1 Voice Academy (1935 Camp Florida Rd, Brandon, FL 33510) on Wednesday, Aug 26: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in hospitals, clinics, and to various partner organizations.  (This event is on the fourth Wednesday of the month.) We are very excited to partner with this amazing local organization.  This is a school for children with cancer which means the children attending are often immune compromised.  Please be considerate when deciding to attend – we ask that if you have the slightest indication of any illness that you choose not to come as the children on site are very vulnerable.  We also request that no other children be brought to the events at this location due to risk of possible infections.  We will be running a normal sew day at this location creating cases for children in the hospitals.  

Videos:

Pillowcase Instructions:  From how to cut the fabric to how to finish the case on either a sewing machine or a surger, this video has it all!  https://youtu.be/0beMuQUahBA

3 Minute Pillowcase all on a surger featuring our Speed Demon volunteer, Nancy Pridmore:  https://youtu.be/HfgC8aFN_Sk

Ways to help:

• Come to a sew day: Bring your sewing machine or serger and a basic sewing kit (thread, scissors, needles, etc.). You don’t have to know how to sew to help at a sew day.  We will teach you!!  We also need help ironing, bagging, counting, and boxing the cases.
• Donate Money for fabric: Monetary donations for pillowcases is always welcome and much needed! There are no paid positions in this organization – we are all volunteers.  100% of the money donated buys fabric for pillowcases.  All other supplies are donated.  You can donate through the website by clicking the “Donate Now” button in the upper right corner of your screen and choosing “Florida-Tampa Bay” in the “Chapter” field.  You can also donate in person at any sew day.  If you would like to donate by mail, contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx by email at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com.
• Hold your own sew day! Gather a group of friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors, or other group and hold your own sew day.  Need help running it?  Have questions?  Contact us!  We’ll help you! Contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com.
• Make pillowcases and drop them off at one of the convenient drop off locations. Directions to make a pillowcase can be found here:  //caseforsmiles.org/get-involved/#sew   Several quilt shops in the area have generously offered to be drop off locations for anyone wishing to contribute pillowcases.  Be sure to check the shop’s website for the hours of operation.